We Are On A Merry Go-Round
Tim Maia—(1973 / Brazilian Soul Music)
Hello internet pals of music. Today we’re reaching deep with a singer-songwriter that found fame fusing Brazilian tradition with American soul music.
Look, I have no idea why you subscribe to Sermons!.
I have no idea why I’m still doing it—I’m not even interested in my own weird little stories anymore. I couldn’t ever figure what my intentions were here to begin with, and I still can’t.
Who cares? The world is exhausting and whatever overpriced gadget you’re reading this on is partly to blame—or at least, it certainly isn’t helping matters. Each of us carries the pool of Narcissus in our pocket, and it’s wrapped our endless ways of thinking about each other and ourselves into a fat burrito of confusion about what it means to be alive, not mediated.
Or sold to. I’m so fucking sick of advertisements. And marketers. And brands.
SERMONS! is reader-supported. If you’re wishing to support our work, I encourage you to become a subscriber. Otherwise, we’ll all probably forget about this thing.
Thing is, I won’t do anything about it.
Instead, I’ll go to a cafe, work on my laptop, listen to music until I get back in the car and drive to get in a line to grab my nephews from school—where they get their phones confiscated because they’re ridiculously addicted to them—and I’ll make them listen to songs like this one by Tim Maia that they couldn’t care less about (I love my nephews), just like I’m making you wade through a ramble to hear a song you probably couldn’t care less about, or at least listen to according to analytics. Maybe I should just stick to playlists and shut up. People like playlists, according to other music substacks that are more popular.
And then, after two hours in the car, trying my best to bond with the little dudes, I’ll drive to a nature preserve. And I’ll walk into the woods and I’ll stop at every little sound, calm myself while trying to find who’s chirping. Freeze in anticipation that maybe I’ll lock eyes with another little creature who also had no say in the matter of their existence. Two life forms, breathing and waiting, trying to gauge: fight or flight.
Just stay still. Wait.
And if no on sees me back? I’ll pick up my feet, walk along until I hear the next twig snap. Maybe that’s all there is.
Life is a lot. And tomorrow is another chance at it.
SERMONS! is brought to you by Musik Klub. You can also find Jamie on Twitter and Instagram, if that’s your thing. Like what you’re hearing? Help spread the word!
Musik Klub: “Everythang’s Workin”